Branding-machine.



H. WAIBEL.

BRANDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY e. 190s.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

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H. WAIBEL.

BRANDING MAHINE.

AYPLIGATION FILED MAY e. 1909.

Y Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

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l Q New Gabel A HENRY WAIBEL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BRANDING-MACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Application filed May 6, 1909. Serial No. 494,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WAIBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Branding-Machines, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to machines for branding the heads of barrels or kegs, and is so constructed that barrels or kegs of various sizes can be branded without adjustment, the machine being self-adjusting for barrels of various sizes.

The objects of the invention are first, to provide an improved branding machine having novel adjusting` devices to adapt the same to various sized barrels; second, to provide a branding machine in which the barrel does not have to be lifted to any great height in order to brand the same; and third, to provide self-centering means for the barrel, and means to brand all barrels similarly with respect to the location and inclination of the brand.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 25-25 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of one end of the machine on t-he line 28--28 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1 indicates upright end frames or supports on the outer sides of which, near the top thereof, are mounted shafts 2 and 2a'respectively, each carrying a pair of sprocket wheels indicated at 4 and 5, the wheels 4 being loose on the shafts and the wheels 5 fast thereon. The wheels 4 and 5 are in alinement, in the same vertical and horizontal planes. The shafts 2 and 2a are geared together by means of bevel gears 27 thereon engaging bevel gears 26 on a longitudinal horizontal shaft 9, whereby the shafts 2 and 2a are made to turn in unison in opposite directions. The wheels 4 and 5 of the respective shafts are connected together by link belts 6 and 7 which travel through openings 1a in the frames 1. A handle or lever 3 is secured to the shaft 2 for operating the machine.

Extending between the uprights of the frame, below the chains, are rods 10 on which are slidably mounted cross heads or members 12 each of which has a depending arm carrying the branding iron 13. The cross heads are fastened to the respective chains 6 and 7 by blocks or fastening devices 22.

A longitudinal bar 8 extending horizontally lengthwise of the machine is mounted at its opposite ends to slide up and down on vertical rods 23 mounted within the frames 1. On its under side said bar is stepped as indicated at 20, the steps being connected by inclines 21. The bar 8 rests on wheels 11 mounted in bearings at the top of the cross heads 12.

A lower longitudinal bar 17 is suspended from the bar 8 by rods 18 and eye-bolts 19 at the ends of said bars. The ends of the bar 17 extend through vertical slots 1b in the uprights 1, and said bar has vertical slots 24 through which the rods 23 extend. The links or rods 18 and the slots 24 allow the bar 17 to have a slight swing or movement lengthwise, for a purpose to be hereiny after described.

At the middle of the bar 17 is a plate 16 having upstanding fingers 15 at the corners and a central lug 14 adapted to enter the bung hole of the barrel which is placed or supported on the plate 16.

In operation the barrel is set lengthwise on the bar 17, or rather on the plate 16, and is held by the fingersv 15 and the pin 14 which thus centers the barrel thereon. The lever 3 is then forced down, thus actuating the belts 6 and 7 and causing them to respectively travel in opposite directions, causing the cross heads to slide along the rods 10 and bring the branding irons 13 against the heads of the barrel. As the cross heads are drawn toward each other the bar 8 is raised, as the wheels 11 travel along the inclines 21, until the steps 20 are reached, which steps are made to correspond to the size of the barrel or keg being branded, and when the barrel reaches its proper height the branding irons come against the ends thereof and the brands are thus impressed- The steps 20 and the inclines 21 are so graduated as to properly adapt the machine to the barrels of the operator, and can be constructed to provide for branding any special sizes of kegs or barrels. The bar 17 is swingingly suspended from the bar 8 so that if one of the branding irons 13 strikes one head of the barrel a little in advance of the other, the barrel and bar 17 will swing lengthwise to meet the other iron. Any desired type of branding iron may be used.

Various modifications in the construction may be made within the scope of the invention, and no limitation is implied by reason of the particular construction shown.

The machine acts quickly, so that barrels can be branded in much less time than with machines using a screw or the like, and the automatic means for centering the barrel with respect to the branding irons provide a means of decided value for operating on barrels of different sizes.

I claim 1. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame having longitudinal guides extending across the frame, a barrel support below said guides, cross heads slidable toward and from each other on said guides and adapted to carry branding irons, and means connected to the cross heads and extending across the frame above the support for simultaneously moving the cross heads toward and from each other.

2. In a branding machine, the combination of a main frame, a barrel-supporting frame having a lower bar and hangers at opposite ends thereof, said frame being movable up and down in said main frame, longitudinal guides in the main frame, carriers for branding irons mounted on said guides and movable toward and from each other, means to operate said carriers, and means actuated by the operation of said carriers to raise and lower'the barrel-supporting frame as the carriers are moved toward and from each other.

3. In a branding machine, the combination of a main frame having guides, carriers for branding irons movable toward and from each other on the guides, a vertically movable barrel-supporting frame having a lower bar and hangers supporting the same, the frame being mounted in the main frame, and means actuated by the movement of the carriers to automatically raise and lower the barrel-supporting frame according to the extent of movement of the carriers, to center the barrel with respect to the branding irons.

4. In a branding machine, the combination of a frame, a barrel-support therein, the frame having longitudinal guides, carriers for branding irons slidable on said guides toward and from each other, and means for sliding said carriers, including belts geared together to move in opposite directions and connected to the respective carriers.

5. In a branding machine, the combination of a main frame having uprights at the ends, guides extending across the frame between said uprights, a barrel-support located below the guides and constructed to support the barrel under said guides, cross heads slidable toward and from each other its under side, guides in the main frame, car- `riers for branding irons slidable on the guides toward and from each other and bearing against the under side of said upper bar and arranged to lift said bar by contact with the inclines and thereby lift the barrelrsupporting frame, and means to move the carriers toward or from each other.

7. In a branding machine, the combinaltion of a main fra-me provided with guides,

carriers for branding irons slidable toward and from each other on said guides, a barrel- ]supporting bar flexibly hung for longitudinal movement in the frame under said carriers, and means to move `the carriers toward and from each other.

8. In a branding machine, the combination of a main frame having upright-s at opf posite ends and guides extending between said uprights, cross heads slidable toward j and from each other on said guides between the uprights and adapted to carry branding irons, cross shafts mounted on the respective l i v uprights, a pair of wheels on each shaft, one

of said wheels being loose and the other fast .i thereon, belts connecting one fast wheel and f one loose wheel on the respective shafts,

said belts being also respectively connected to the cross heads, gearing between the shafts constructed to rotate the same simultaneously in opposite directions, means to turn one of the shafts, and means to support a barrel between the cross heads.

9. In a branding machine, the combinaf tion of a main frame having uprights and E vertical guides at the ends thereof, horizonftal guides extending between the uprights, a bar movable up and down on the vertical 2 guides, said bar having stepped inclines on the under side thereof, carriers for branding irons slidable toward and from each other on the horizontal guides and having supporting wheels for the bar in contact with the under side thereof, a lower barrel support-ing bar flexibly connected at its ends to the ends of the said bar and movable up and down therewith and also having limited longitudinal movement, and means to move the carriers toward and from each other.

In testimony whereof, I do aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY VVAIBEL.

Witnesses:

MONROE E. MILLER, J oHN A. BOMMHARDT. 

